Awesome question, brother. I am now finished with the other questions lol. I was in class a few weeks ago, and we spoke about this. I hope I get this as close as I can to what I was taught and after studying and praying, what I believe. I was told by the priest, that we are judged by what is in our hearts. If we live by the law, we are judged by the law. If we choose to follow the Catholic Church (which I do because I see it goes by the teachings of Christ), then we must confess our sins. However, if one doesn't follow the Catholic Church and is not part of it, and believes truly in his heart (for God knows what is truly in a man's heart) that he needs not go to confession but needs to confess to God and God only, and does so sincerely and truly tries to not sin again, then he will be judged according to what's in his heart.
We have two types of sin (and I know people are going to comment on this part like I've heard so many times before): Venial sin and Mortal sin. Mortal sin is knowing you are about to sin and offend God, but go through with the sin anyway, therefore intentionally breaking that bond with Him. This is a serious sin which, if not confessed and pennance payed for (not in money) before death, results in the being thrown in the firey furnace. Venial sin is sin being committed either unintentionally or being unaware of it. These are the sins we go to the cleansing place for (purgatory). And yes, I agree with the Catholic Church on this, and believe it. There's alot that goes with it, but that's the basics. If you meant something else, please tell me and I will answer. Thanks brother. God bless
Thanks for your answer, now is confession for forgiveness to get more forgiveness? And are we not to have our consciemces purged from sin via the cross. I say and ask this because of the scripture that states this
2 Corinthians 1:12[
Paul’s Change of Plans ] We can say with confidence and a clear
conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
1 Timothy 1:5The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear
conscience, and genuine faith.
1 Timothy 1:19Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your
conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their
consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
Titus 1:15Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and
consciences are corrupted.
Now the folloowing is how I found out to get a clear conscience
Hebrews 9:9This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the
consciences of the people who bring them.
Hebrews 9:14Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our
consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Hebrews 10:22let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty
consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Hebrews 13:18Pray for us, for our
conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.
Now in understanding how to accomplish this I ahd to give up my works and understand taht it is all done in his works, when he went to the cross it was the final sacrifice and the final shedding of Blood as the final payment for all sin he did once and for all
Romans 6:10For the death that He died, He died to sin
once for all; but
the life that He lives, He lives to God.
Hebrews 7:27who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first
for His own sins and then
for the people’s,
for this He did
once for all when He offered up Himself.
Hebrews 9:12Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place
once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Hebrews 10:10By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ
once for all.
Jude 1:3[ Contend for the Faith ] Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Hebrews 9:22In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 10:18And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
So anyway when I discovered this and was asking God to forgive me conrinuously I kept hearing that I am already forgiven and that the whle world is by Christ at the cross itis finished. So I researched further and learned that the reason I continued in sin so much and could not stop it was when I saw this verse
Galatians 6:8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
I saw this that even if I thinkj of the flesh even not wanting to do things of the flesh I saw and see that it was sowing the flesh period and I was reaping the flesh by trying not to do the flesh as taught in almost all denominations. I sought then to start the new life praising my savior all day long thanking him that all my past sins are gone and in praising him all day long for him doing this for me, I found that by starting the new Life the old life had gotten forsaken my mind no longer pondering whether or not I will sin again or not, too busy with this new life for that to affect me any longer, too busy thanking God for purging my conscience from even pondering sin. Thanks Charlie it is a pleasure to have met you here and desire to keep sharpening one another in the Faith of Christ